Water Management Challenges study findings were presented at the 10th ICWFM Conference 2025

Dhaka, Bangladesh – The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Institute of Development Studies and Sustainability (IDSS) at United International University (UIU) shared their findings at the International Conference on Water and Flood Management (ICWFM) 2025. This conference, which focused on conserving water and ecosystems for climate resilience, happened from February 22-24 at the Centre on Integrated Rural Development for Asia and the Pacific (CIRDAP) in Dhaka.

As global issues related to water management and flood resilience increase, this conference provided an important platform for discussion and sharing ideas. IRRI and IDSS discussed water management challenges, especially regarding Bangladesh's coastal polders. Their presentations focused on water governance, particularly on how to prioritize water investments and interventions. Salma Begum from IDSS at UIU presented the study’s findings to an expert panel and highlighted the need for community-driven solutions in water governance. Ahmad Salahuddin, a Senior Associate Scientist at IRRI, emphasized the importance of integrated water management approaches during one of the sessions. 

This research aims to empower local communities through participatory water management practices to address the growing challenges of water governance in coastal polders. A collaborative study at the conference looked at participatory water management in two coastal polders—Polder 34/2P in Khulna and Polder 43/2F in Barguna districts. This research aimed to gather grassroots insights to improve water management systems and help vulnerable communities become more resilient. The study is part of CGIAR’s Asian Mega Deltas (AMD) initiative, which supports sustainable practices for climate adaptation. 

ICWFM 2025 brought together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from different fields to promote collaboration on effective strategies for sustainable water management. The discussions at the conference were key in developing solutions to lessen the effects of climate change and ensure long-term food and water security. For more information on ICWFM 2025, including details about sessions and speakers, please visit the official conference web site: https://icwfm2025.com.

###

Learn more about IRRI (www.irri.org) or follow us on social media and networks (all links down the right column).